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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Tottenham Hotspur -v- Chelsea
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 10 0 4 6 9- 21 4
Away 9 0 3 6 6- 17 3
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Total (Prem) 19 0 7 12 15- 38 7
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)42 20 9 13 79- 57 51
Away (Div 1)42 19 6 17 63- 50 46
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Total(Div 1)84 39 15 30 142-107 97
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 2 1 1 0 7- 4 3
Away (Div 2) 2 0 1 1 1- 4 1
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Total(Div 2) 4 1 2 1 8- 8 4
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Total (Prem) 19 0 7 12 15- 38 7
Total(Div 1)84 39 15 30 142-107 97
Total(Div 2) 4 1 2 1 8- 8 4
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Grand Tot 105 40 24 43 165-153 108
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Let us begin this preview by dealing with the most dismal aspect of it
first. The following is the dreadful sequence of results over the years
since 1986-87 :
SEASON HOME AWAY
1986-87 1-3 2-0
1987-88 1-0 0-0
1989-90 1-4 2-1
1990-91 1-1 2-3
1991-92 1-3 0-2
1992-93 1-2 1-1
1993-94 1-1 3-4
1994-95 0-0 1-1
1995-96 1-1 0-0
1996-97 1-2 1-3
1997-98 1-6 0-2
1998-99 2-2 0-2
1999-2000 0-1 0-1
2000-2001 0-3 0-3
2001-2002 2-3
I shall not dwell on these statistics but will leave them to speak for
themselves! Suffice to say that the 5-1 victory over Chelsea in the
Football League Cup Semi-Final has proved only to be a mirage!
Our performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup surely proves the urgency
with which rebuilding of the side is necessary. Whilst I agree that any
squad needs an old head or two, surely we should be increasingly looking
at the development of youngsters? We saw on Sunday four supposedly more
experienced players fail to provide a lead for the younger element in the
team. Ferdinand and Sheringham are clearly past their sell-by date as
strikers even if they have scored some priceless goals this season. Rebrov
clearly does not fit in to the squad either which leaves us with Iversen,
who has never been a prolific goalscorer. The midfield pairing of Sherwood
and Poyet has not been as productive as one had hoped for. Neither of them
seem to be able to perform for 90 minutes. And I'm positive that Perry
would have played better than Dean Richards!
There have been some signs of future success for Tottenham but I have to
say that I feel we have a battle facing us for the remainder of the
season. I can sense some parallels with season 1927-28 when Spurs had an
equally good cup run and were then thrashed by Huddersfield Town, 6-1, at
the same stage of the season. We were comfortably off, seemingly safe from
relegation, but were ultimately relegated with the highest number of
points ever attained by a relegated side under the two points for a win
system. I feel very strongly that history could repeat itself as I feel
sure our confidence has been shattered by two traumatic defeats.
As for myself, I feel that question marks have to be posted against
Hoddle's selection and tactics. I have noticed in recent weeks a growing
band of opinion of doubts about Sheringham. He has been a very good
servant in the past but I do wonder whether he is playing from memory at
the moment. He could do with a spell on the bench .....
All in all, I think it sums up that all we have to look forward to now is
two more seasons, at the very least, of rebuilding and reorganising. We
have to accept, for the medium term at least, that we are a middle of the
table team. We will have to swallow hard and accept the fact that we are
increasingly a joke so far as our North London neighbours are concerned.
But our day will come eventually ......
Chelsea will be full of confidence on Wednesday night and Spurs will still
be feeling demoralised. I am not optimistic about the outcome and will not
be surprised if we are on the wrong end of another thrashing. This game is
coming far too soon for my liking as I also suspect passions will be high
and tempers will be short. I hope that a stronger referee than Andy D'Urso
is in evidence on Wednesday night .....
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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